Town cemetery could be 'full up' in decade

Residents of a Wiltshire town face being unable to be buried there if new graveyard space is not found, a council has said.

According to Marlborough Town Council, there is about a decade's worth of burial space left, after which it will not be possible for people to be laid to rest in the town.

In response, the council has proposed to extend their current cemetery onto the town's common - but as this is public land, the plans have to be approved by residents first.

Councillor Mervyn Hall said the current cemetery - built in 1924 - was "nearly full up".

Hall explained there was about 11 years of capacity for burials and six for cremations, adding: "Once it is full up, there's nowhere else in the parish to use."

Marlborough Town Council said it has tried in vain over a 10-year period to find new cemetery land and has "exhausted" all options.

A call-out for cemetery land was put out to local landowners in the most recent Marlborough- area neighbourhood plan, but no offers came from that.

Hall added: "Nothing came forward from landowners, because obviously you don't make much money by having your land turned into a cemetery.

"Using council-managed land was really the only option for us."

The council is proposing to extend the cemetery onto part of Marlborough Common, which is directly next to the existing burial site and the original Victorian cemetery, which opened in 1855.

If the current cemetery in Marlborough is extended onto the common, the town council has suggested creating replacement common land at the nearby Hawthorn Meadow, next to a recent housing development.

The space is four times as large as the common land the council wants to use for the cemetery.

The consultation will be run as a public vote for registered voters in the East and West Marlborough Parish wards.

Poll cards will not be issued, but a ballot vote can be cast in person between 08:00 BST and 20:00 GMT on 16 April at Marlborough Town Hall.

People unable to attend can call into the Town Council office between 09:00 and 16:00 GMT on 13, 14 and 15 April.

Anyone voting will be required to show photo ID.

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